Eagle Day Festival offers visitors variety of activities

Dickson Mounds Museum is taking that thrill a step further during the annual Eagle Day Festival which is scheduled at the museum on Saturday, Feb. 6. The event is offered free to everyone.

The event is co-sponsored by the museum, Emiquon Audubon Society, Fulton County Arts Council, the Havana Library District, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Mason County Arts Council, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Viewing eagles in Fulton County is a thrill for many residents.
Dickson Mounds Museum is taking that thrill a step further during the annual Eagle Day Festival which is scheduled at the museum on Saturday, Feb. 6. The event is offered free to everyone.
The event is co-sponsored by the museum, Emiquon Audubon Society, Fulton County Arts Council, the Havana Library District, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Mason County Arts Council, The Nature Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Illinois Winter Wildlife Photography Show is one feature of the day of events. Fulton and Mason county residents are invited to be a part of the show.
Also, an Eagle Art and Poetry display will be created by students from both counties.
Both exhibits will continue at the museum through March 1.
Members of the Emiquon Audubon Society and the museum will offer hands-on activities for youth from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the day-long event. The activities will include a Birds in the Past Scavenger hunt in the museum's exhibits.
Also from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., "Birds of Prey Up Close" will be presented by Wildlife Prairie Park. The activity will allow everyone to see a variety of birds such as hawks, eagles, and owls.
The Illinois Raptor Center of Decatur will present a program entitled "Illinois Raptors." The one-hour program will feature live birds of prey. Admission to the show is free, but tickets should be picked up in the museum lobby. Seating at the show is limited to 150 individuals.
The movie, "Fly Away Home," will be shown at noon in the museum auditorium. The movie features Jeff Daniels and tells about the adventure of a 13-year-old girl and her estranged father. Together, they learn what family is all about when the adopt an orphaned flock of geese and teach them to fly.
At 4 p.m., the event will come to a close with the Eagle Art and Poetry Awards ceremony where winners will be honored.
In addition to events at the museum, volunteers will be available from 8 a.m. until noon at Havana Riverfront Park to help visitors spot eagles.
The Fulton and Mason county arts council will offer lunch. Proceeds from those sales will fund other programs.
The Illinois State Museum - Dickson Mounds is located between Lewistown and Havana off Illinois Routes 78 and 97.
The muse is open free to the public from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day. Tours and special programs are available for groups with reservations. For more information, phone 309-547-3721 at TTY 217-782-9175. Visit the museum's Web site at:
www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/dickson
About the Wildlife Photography Competition and Show
Award categories include: Youth (17 and under); Amateur; and Professional.
Entries will be judged via
people's choice through Feb. 19.
Winners and a participant list will be posted on Feb. 22.

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